Sewing machine



(No Model.) 3 Sheets--Sheet-1. T. P. HART 81; G. S. HILL. SEWING MACHINE.

No. 406,277. Patented July 2, 1889.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

T. P. HART & G. S. HILL.

SEWING MACHINE.

No. 406,277. Patented JulyZ, 1889.

(No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 3.

T. F. HART 8: G. S. HILL.

SEWING MACHINE.

NO. 406,277. Patented July 2, 1889.

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Iijyerffprs UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIcE.

THOMAS F. HART AND GEORGE S. HILL, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS; SAID HILL ASSIGNOR TO SAID HART.

SEWING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 406,277, dated July 2; 1889.

Application filed May 29, 1888. Serial No. 275,475. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, THOMAS F. HART and GEORGE S. HILL, both citizens of .the United States, and residents of Lynn, in the county 5 of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have jointly invented new and useful Improvements in Sewing-Machines, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

I This invention relates to that type of sewing-machines wherein the needle-bar reciprocates in a frame vibrated bya cam geared to the main driving-shaft to form zigzag stitches.

The object of our invention is to provide I novel means for operating the vibrating frame, stopping and starting its vibrations at will, and making a straight line of stitches, or a zigzagged line of stitches, or alternating straight and zigzagged lines of stitches, as

may be desired.

The object of our invention we accomplish by the combination of devices hereinafter described and claimed, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which 2 5 Figure 1 represents a front elevation of our improved sewing-machine. 2 represents a bottom view of the same. Fig. 3 represents a section on the line A B, shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 represents a partial rear view 0 of the machine. Fig. 5 represents a crosssection on the line C D, shown in Figs. 1 and 2; and Fig. 6 represents a plan view of a straight and a zigzagged line of stitches, for making which the machine is adapted.

3 5 Similar letters refer to similar parts wherever they occur on the different parts of the drawings.

a is the work-supporting plate; I), the gooseneck; 0, the rotary driving-shaft for actuato ing the needle-bar cl, as is usual in- Singer or other sewing-machines. To the shaft 0 is secured, as usual, the bevel-pinion c, by means of which and mechanism common to sewingmachines of this kind 'a rotary motion is im- 5 parted to the shaft 6, such mechanism being, however, not shown in the drawings, as it does not form a part of our invention. The

shaft 6 has secured to it the cam 6, (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2,) as usual, for imparting a rocking motion to the feed-lever f,

to the forward end of which is pivoted the feed-dog g. To the shaft 6 is also secured the crank-disk e, to which is hinged the rod E, that is pivoted in its forward end to the rocklever E, for imparting an oscillating motion to the hook or shuttle below the work-supporting plate, in the usual manner.

In connection with the above we use mechanism for making a zigzag line of stitches, as

represented at w in Fig. 6, with any desired number of stitches between the ends of the zigzag rows,and this mechanism is constructed as follows:

The needle-bar d is journaled in a rocking frame (1, that is pivoted at d" to the forward end of the goose-neck of the machine, as shown in Fig. 3. A reciprocating motion crosswise to the line of feed is imparted to the needle-bar from the rotary driving-shaft c as follows: To said shaft is secured the bevel gear-pinion c, the teeth of which mesh in the teeth of the bevel gear-pinion c loosely journaled on the pin or stud 0 secured to the goose-neck frame, and to said gear 0 is secured or made in one piece the spur gear-pinion 0 the teeth of which mesh in the teeth of the spur-gear h, loosely journaled on a pin or stud 71/, secured to the goose-neck frame. as shown in- Figs. 1, 3, and 5. The gear h has on its outer side a polygonal graduated camgroove 72", adapted to receive a pin or pin and roll k attached to the arm is, the latter being grooved or slotted for the reception of the inner end of the pin t, that is capable of adjustment in the slotted arm is to and K from the fulcru m-pin k of said arm, and after being so adjusted the said pin 2' is secured to the slotted arm 70 by means of the thumb-nut e", that is secured to the outer end of said pin 2', as shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 5 0 To the pin i is hinged the rear end of the link Z, the opposite end of which is hinged to the screw or pin 01 that is secured to the free end of the needle-bar frame d, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. By this arrangement it will be seen that a comparatively slow intermittent reciprocating motion is imparted to the needle crosswise to the line of feed while the needle is above the work, so as to produce the zigzag line of stitches shown at m in Fig. 6. By IOC adjusting the position of the pint relative to the slotted rocking arm 7x) the amount of such reciprocating movement of the needle can be regulated. The arm is secured to the fulcrum-pin that is journaled in a bearing in the goose-neck frame, and it is normally held in such a position relative to the grooved cam-wheel k that the pin or pin and roll 75* shall rest in the cam-groove of the said wheel 71, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, as long as it is desired by the operator to make the zig zag line of stitches. so held by the influence of the spring 7t", that surrounds the fulcrum-pin 7s and has its inner end resting against the bearing for said fulcrum-pin, its outer end pressing against a screw or collar k, secured to the free end of the said fulcrum-pin 7.3, as shown in Fig. 5. \Vhenever it is desired by the operator to change from a zigzag a: to a straight line of stitches Y in Fig. G,it is only necessary to push on the fulcrum-pin 7r sufficient to disengage the pin or pin and roll k from the cam-groove 7L, when of course no reciprocating motion is imparted to the needle-frame and its needle-bar crosswise to the line of feed. Such disengagement of the pin 75 is accomplished by means of the vertical shaft 017, having a handle m secured to it for the operator to take hold of; or, instead of such a handle, suitable mechanism may be employed, so that the operator may actuate said shaft m for this purpose by means of knee or foot pressure without departing from the spirit of our invention. The same effect may be produced by moving thepin i on the slotted arm 7.; to a position coinciding with that of the fulcrumpin 70'. To said shaft m is also secured a dog or lever m", that comes in contact with the free end of the fulcrum-pin it when the handle m" is swung in the direct-i011 shown by arrow in Fig. 1. Thus it will be seen that by turning the handle m in said direction the lever on" is caused to press against the fulcrum-pin 7t, and thus force the arm 76 and pin 70 against the influence of the spring 7:. sufficiently to disengage the pin 7; from the cam-groove in the wheel 71, for the purpose above mentioned; but it is desirable that such disengagement should only be possible at regular stated intervals, so as to produce an even and symmetrical zigzag line of stitches, as shown at a: in Fig. 6, and for this purpose we use in connection with the rockshaft m an automatic locking device constructed as follows:

In hearings in the goose-neck frame is located a pin 02, that is normally held in contact with the inside of the gear h by the influence of a suitable spring 71'. (Shown in Fig. To the rear end of said spring-pressed pin 01 is secured a locking-pin 91", preferably by means of a block or cross-piece 01 located in guides at the rear of the goose-neck, as shown in Figs. at and 5.

To the upper end of the rock-shaftm is socured a lever M, having notches M M, as

The slotted arm 7; is.

shown in Fig. 3, adapted to receive the lockingpin it, thus preventing the turning of the shaft m as long as the pin a restsin eitherof the said two notches M M".

To the rear of the gear-wheel 7L is secured a cam-shaped projection 7L3, which comes in contact with and presses outward the springprcssed pin 02. once during each revolution of said wheel 71, and when it does so it releases the pin n" from the notched lever M, thus permitting the operate r to turn the handle m,

so as to disengage the pin it from the camgroove in the wheel 71, and to hold it in such disengaged position by the locking-pin n" dropping in one of the notches hi1 M by the influence of the spring a and pin a as soon as the projection 71. on the gear h passes by said pin it. When the pin 70 is kept disengaged from the grooved wheel 71/, the arm It; is pressed against the cylindrical hub 72; by the influence of the spring'd pressing against the outside of the needle-bar frame d, as shown in Fig. 3, thus holding said needle-bar frame stationary. \Vhenevera return from a straight to a zigzag line of stitches is desired, it is accomplished by swinging the handle m in the opposite direction as soon as its lever M is disengaged from thelocking-pin n, as above described.

In making a line of stitches as shown in Fig. Gthat is, partly zigzag and straight-it is desirable to change the feed of the material in such a manner as to feed quicker while making the straight line of stitches as compared with the making of the zigzag one, and for this purpose we use, in connection with the throw-off shaft m, a connecting mechanism to the rock feed-lever f, for varying the feed relative to straight and zigzag work, constructed as follows:

Below the work-plate a is secured to the shaft on a lever 13, to which is pivoted -at p the secondary lever g, which, as the lever 19 is rocked, is actuated by adjustable set-screws p p", screwed through ears on said lever 21, as shown in Fig. 2, thus causing the lever (1 partially to partake of the motion of the shaft m and its lever 19. The lever q is suitably connected to a slide-bar r, as shown in Fig. 2 adapted to slide in guides a. a on the under side of the work-plate a, as shown. A friction-spring 7" serves to retain the bar 7* in position after being adjusted by the movement of the shaft m and its lever 12. The forward end of the bar 7' is pivoted at r to the rock feed-lever f, as shown in Fig. 2, thus causing the fulcrum of said feed-lever to be moved to and from the feed-dog g by the motion of the shaft in and its connections, as above described. The feed-lever f has a slot f in its outer end, through which passes the feed-dog pin or screw g, as shown in Fig. 2, so as to permit a longitudinal adj ustmentof the lever f relative to the feed-dog, for the purpose above mentioned. The lever 19 is limited in its rocking motion by means of adjustable steps a" a", secured to the under side of the ITO work-plate a, as shown in Fig. 2. It will thus be seen that the amount of feed is increased when, by the motion of the shaft on and its connections, the fulcrum r on lever f is moved away from the feed-dog g correspondin g to straight-stitch work, and vice versa corresponding to zigzag work. The vertical in ovement of the needle-bar and presser-foot is accomplished by the main drivingshaft 0 through the usual mechanism employed in Singer or other machines, and forms no part of our present invention.

In the operation of the machine the camgear h is, by its gear-connection with the drive-shaft c, rotated at much less speed than said shaft, and consequently the needle-carryin g bar is reciprocated repeatedly while being moved in one direction transverse to the feed, and as the work is very slowly fed during such transverse movement of the needle bar a series of stitches is formed on an oblique line, which continues until the cam-gear makes one-half of a revolution. The instant this half-revolution is completed, the cam-gear continuing to rotate in the same direction, the needle-bar commences to move in the other direction transverse to the feed, and, the work still being very slowly fed, another oblique line of stitches is formed, which, in connection with the previously-formed line, has the outline of the letter V. The last-mentioned halfrevolution of the cam-gear being completed, the same operation just described is repeated thus forming a zigzag line of stitches, as represented at as, Fig. 6, which can be continued so long as the pin or roll 70 of the arm 76 is in engagement with the cam h of the gear h. It will be obvious that when the arm is is disengaged from the cam-groove the vibratory movement of the frame (1 ceases, and the machine will produce a straight line of stitches, as at Y, Fig. 6.

WVhat we wish to secure by Letters Patent, and claim, is

1. The combination,with the rocking frame (Z, needle-bar d, shaft 0, and spur-gear 71, driven by the shaft and having a polygonal cam-groove h, of the swinging arm 10, engaging the cam-groove, a link Z, connecting the arm with the rocking frame, and a lengthwise-slidin g pin is, carrying the swinging arm for moving said arm laterally from engagement with the cam-groove, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the rocking frame (1', needle-bar d, shaft 0, and spurgear h, driven by the shaft and having a polygonal cam-groove h", of the swinging arm k, engaging the cam-groove, a link Z, connecting the arm with the rocking frame, a lengthwisesliding pin 75, carrying the arm for moving it laterally from engagement with the camgroove, and a spring is on the pin for restoring it to its normal position and engaging the arm with the cam-groove, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the rocking frame cl, needle-bar d, shaft 0, and spurgear h, driven by the shaft and having a polygonal cam-groove h, of the swinging arm 70, en-

- gaging the cam-groove, a link Z, connecting the arm with the rocking frame, a lengthwisesliding spring-pressed pin 70, carrying the arm, and the shaft m, having a projection m to act on the pin and move it lengthwise, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with the rocking frame d, needle-bar d, shaft 0, and spur-gear h, driven by the shaft and having a projection it and a cam-groove h", of a swinging arm it, connected with the rocking frame and engaging the cam-groove, a spring-pressed pin 70, carrying the arm, the shaft m, having the projection m and notched lever M, and the spring-pressed pin 02, having locking-pin n, substantially as described.

5. The combination of the shipper-shaft m, the lever p, secured thereto and having the regulating-screws p", the lever q, pivoted to the lever on the shipper-shaft, the adjustable bar 7", pivoted to the lever q, the feed-dog g, and the feed-lever fihaving a slotted connection with the feed-dog, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 19th day of May, A. D. 1888.

THOMAS F. HART. GEORGE S. HILL.

Witnesses:

ALBAN ANDREN, THoMAs F. NOONAN. 

